Letters to the Editor

Tuesday, 19 June 2012

The Codiac Regional RCMP is releasing a picture and updated
description of the suspect in a robbery at a credit union that occurred
on June 18. (photo left)

Shortly after 2 p.m., a lone suspect entered the institution at 1192
Mountain Road in Moncton and demanded money from an employee. He left
the location with an undisclosed amount of cash. No one was injured
during the incident.

The suspect is a Caucasian man in his late 20s. He is approximately
5'9" tall and stocky. He was wearing blue jeans, a black jacket, a green
baseball cap and running shoes.

Anyone with information on this robbery is asked to contact Codiac
Regional RCMP at 506-857-2400. Information can also be provided
anonymously through Crime Stoppers NB online at www.crimenb.ca or by phone at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Monday, 18 June 2012

Conservation Council expects government to table new bill next session FREDERICTON - Bill 62, an amendment to the Municipalities Act which would give unincorporated rural areas the same authority to vote on shale gas exploration as municipalities, passed second reading in the Legislative Assembly with the support of government.

The bill did not, however, go through and pass the final reading before
the end of the day on June 13 which marked the end of the summer session of the
Legislature. All bills not passed by the end of the session die.

Stephanie Merrill, spokesperson for shale gas at CCNB Action is
encouraged by the fact that the government voted in favour of the bill.

“We are happy to see that the government is supportive of legislating
equal opportunities to rural communities and municipalities in deciding
on shale gas exploration” said Merrill.

Merrill said that the current governance structure in New Brunswick
means unincorporated communities have no legal mechanisms that give them
the authority to decide if shale gas development, and other mining and
development projects, is something they feel fits with the vision of
their community.

“Since the bill passed second reading, we fully expect the government to
bring its own version of the bill back to the Legislature during the
Fall sitting”, said Merrill.

CCNB Action has been advocating that all communities be given this
authority to define the type, pace, scale and place of shale gas
exploration and development.

The RCMP in Grand Falls is investigating a fire at a poultry farm in Saint-François, N.B.

Police and firefighters responded to the fire in the early morning
hours of June 17, 2012. A building that housed a chicken nursery,
located on chemin Bouchard, was destroyed by fire. Approximately 9,500
chickens perished.

The cause of the fire is under investigation and at this time is unknown.

Anyone with information about this incident, or who may have seen
suspicious activity in the area is asked to contact the District 10
RCMP. Information can also be provided anonymously to Crime Stoppers at www.crimenb.ca or 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

- There is some speculation this incident might be part of the ongoing dispute between Nadeau Poultry Farms and Groupe Westco. This publication did a story on the disagreement between the two companies earlier this year. - ED.

ROTHESAY – “The Conservatives are trying
to spin their way out of a mess they created. I want the Conservatives to
explain why Efficiency New Brunswick needed four Presidents and CEOs in the
last year,” said New Brunswick New Democrat Leader Dominic Cardy.

Cardy questioned Deputy Premier Paul
Robichaud’s explanation for Premier David Alward’s decision to appoint former
Conservative MLA for Rothesay Margaret-Ann Blaney to be CEO and President of
Efficiency New Brunswick. Mr. Robichaud told the media that Ms. Blaney was
hired to replace former CEO of Efficiency NB Elizabeth Weir, when in fact the
position was filled in March by the deputy minister of environment Denis Caron,
and has been previously held by other civil servants.

“My problem is not with Ms. Blaney – it
is with the system that gives New Brunswick Premiers, Liberal and
Conservatives, the power to play favourites with our public service,” said
Cardy.

Since the Conservatives
were elected Premier Alward has appointed his campaign co-chairs to head
InvestNB and NB Liquor. The previous Liberal government also has a record
of patronage. Former Premier Shawn Graham appointed one of his closest
political advisors to be CEO of NB Liquor in 2006 and then, when he lost the
election, made sure he was gifted with a secret pension.

Mr. Cardy is the New Democrat candidate
in the riding of Rothesay, and has committed to ending patronage in New
Brunswick.

“If
elected I will bring the Rothesay Charter
to End Patronage to the legislature,” said Cardy. “This Bill would make it
an offense for an elected politician to try and influence the hiring process in
any way.”

Cardy
added, “Except for the individuals working directly for politicians, and
ceremonial offices, all government appointments will be made based on merit and
without the influence of elected officials.”

“For 150 years, the Conservatives and
Liberals have traded power back and forth, making bad decisions that have
undermined our economy and weakened our province,” said Cardy. “It is time for
a change.”

ROTHESAY
– As Liberal candidate John Wilcox campaigns in the Rothesay by-election, he's finding there is confusion around the explanations the Tories have given regarding the appointment of the riding’s former MLA, Margaret-Ann Blaney, to CEO of Efficiency New Brunswick .

“This
issue keeps coming up as I go door to door,” Wilcox said. “It’s become a
source of embarrassment for the people of Rothesay, and the Tories keep
making things worse by coming up with a new explanation every day.

“The bottom line is it was the wrong thing to do and no one in government can stand up and admit it.”

The
day Blaney resigned as Rothesay MLA she was made
CEO of Efficiency NB by Premier Alward. There was no competition posted for the job, which commands one of the highest salaries in
the civil service.

During a budget
debate in the legislature this spring, the minister responsible for
Efficiency NB, Bruce Fitch, said his party saved taxpayers $200,000 a year
by eliminating the position of CEO of Efficiency NB, noting the duties
were to be handled by an existing deputy minister.

A
few weeks later, Alward announced Blaney was appointed to the job
that had been eliminated. Last week, Deputy Premier Paul Robichaud
claimed the position had not been eliminated, directly contradicting his
fellow cabinet minister Fitch.

The Conservatives promised to eliminate patronage during the 2010
provincial election campaign.

”I don’t agree with it, and I have yet to meet anyone who agrees with it during this campaign,” Wilcox said.

FREDERICTON
– Opposition Labour critic Chris Collins (photo left) is worried about the
ramifications of Bill C-38, passed in parliament after a marathon
session in Ottawa late last week.

Bill
C-38 includes reforms to the Employment Insurance program that could
have a devastating impact on New Brunswick’s seasonal industries.

The
Opposition Liberals urged the Alward government throughout the
legislative session to discuss the issue with the Prime Minister on issues that
matter to New Brunswickers – including EI reform.

Collins,
Moncton East MLA Chris Collins and critic for Post-Secondary Education,
Training, and Labour is disappointed that Premier Alward refused to
speak out against Harper during the EI debate. “Other premiers spoke
out. But our premier has showed time and again he is reluctant to stand
up to the Conservatives in Ottawa.”

Collins
notes that it isn’t just traditional industries that will be affected
by EI reform. Workers in the fisheries, agriculture, and forestry
sectors are immediately thought of when reforms are discussed. Several
other workers will be affected, however. “Think about teachers without
full-time positions, TA’s, bus drivers, or any other staff in the school
system. If they don’t have contracts, they don’t get paid in the
summer. EI reform will hurt them too.”

Collins
also notes how difficult EI reform will be on tourism in the province.
“Yes, we have winter tourism, and have worked to grow that industry. But
people mainly travel in spring, summer, and fall. It is difficult for
workers living in tourist destinations to find alternate work in the
downtime.”

Collins’
first concern is for seasonal workers. Like others, however, he knows
these changes will negatively affect business owners as well. “First,
the government will ask employees to drive an hour to find work in their
down time. With the high price of gas, that has a cost, and that’s if
people have reliable transportation in the first place. Eventually they
are going to move. We will be lucky if they stay in the province, but
they are more likely to head West.”

With
an out-migration of seasonal workers, businesses will struggle to
survive. The Opposition Liberals worry that businesses in the province
will close shop if the workers aren’t available.

Two of the
public meetings on a potential expanded natural gas industry will be
live-streamed, Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup announced
today.
Those meetings to be live-streamed will take place today, June 18, in Havelock and on Monday, June 25 in
Blackville. Live-streaming will be available from
6:30 p.m to 8:30 p.m. at www.nbtvtoday.com/live.

Anyone wanting to send questions in advance of the event to be asked on the floor can email naturalgas@gnb.ca.

It’s an important time for the City to start
connecting with its residents in a more reachable way. Many residents of the city use social media
on a daily basis. In fact, over 17
million people in Canada are actively on social media, according to an Ipsos
poll taken in 2011. Now City services,
as well as City staff, are using this method of communication to stay in touch
and share information.

Mayor of Fredericton, Brad Woodside, took some time Thursday morning to
discuss how social media improves his accessibility.

“If you
look at the tweets last night (Wednesday), somebody sent me a tweet 'What is
the height of fences around pools?'". So, I told [him] it was 1.5
metres. What I find is that it's giving people relatively instant
communication with an elected person and I think people like that. I
don't have the answers to all the questions obviously, but if I don't, I
forward it on through email to staff to get the information.”

1.5 meters according to the bylaw.@Jrsndean: @bradwoodside is there a document that will tell me how tall a fence needs to be around a pool?
— Brad Woodside(@bradwoodside) June 12, 2012

Woodside continued to say, “I like it in that
respect. You don't have to wait until 8:30 in the morning the next day
to find out that I'm at a meeting and I can't call you back. Social media
is convenient, in so far as, you can do it at anytime, anywhere, any place.”

Open communication was a hot issue that was
discussed during the May election. While
many said they’d improve communication, Woodside described how it wasn’t an
election thing for him.

“ If I'm going to have a communication link
with the public, it's really important that I'm on it. They get used to
the fact that if you've got a question, you tweet it to Woodside, he's going to
answer you back. I can get back to
people very quickly - that's not the part that takes time. I also like to
see who's following me and who I'm not following back. So, there's a lot
of maintenance. I do that once in a while [and] usually do it on the
weekend.”

At the time this story was written, Woodside had
10,805 followers on Twitter. He is following 10,732 of them.

“I think the city is getting into it. Now we have departments and we have the
organization through our communications people tweeting information. As
far as a social media plan, I haven't got one and I think that's probably
something that will happen sooner than later now that we have a new council.”

When asked if the city had a plan to get the police
department on social media, Woodside went on record, stating, “That's going to
be part of our corporate thing that we're doing when we're first meeting as a
council on [June] 23rd. Communication is going to be something that
we'll be talking about. That in all probability will be something that
will be discussed in terms of all departments and how we're linked and how
everybody is getting their message out, which could very well turn into a policy.”

Stacey Russell, Manager of Social Media and Travel
Media Relations with Fredericton Tourism shared her thoughts on the City’s “Town
Square Social Hub”.

“We’re happy with how well they are coming along.
The goal for our Town Square Social Hub is to develop a pool of conversations
within local residents – something that for when visitors are planning their
trip (or are already arrived in) Fredericton they’re able to jump in and ask
questions.”

“This has proven to be very beneficial for
Fredericton Tourism as part of our overall strategy moving forward.”

The one City service most noticeably present on
social media has been the Fredericton Fire Department (FFD). From accident reporting to issuing recall
notices, they seemingly have everything covered. Cameron Dunn, an Inspector with the
Fredericton Fire Department and the man behind the tweets, shared his
thoughts on where the FFD is excelling.

“Specifically we use our feeds to engage people’s
interest in fire safety, recalls and also let them know when we are at an
incident that will result in street closures, etc. From the feedback @cityfredfire receives, we
can see we are getting the fire safety message out to followers and Facebook friends.”

Dunn continued, stating, “It has allowed us to
react quickly to evolving situations at calls and inform the public of issues
that might affect them immediately. We
have also found it is a great forum for answers to questions a lot of the
public have about the FFD. Issuing
recalls, we see the trail that these take through “likes” and “retweets” to a
large portion of our population. Just
getting people talking about recalls make for greater public safety.”

Do you think that the City of Fredericton and city
services are on track to lead the country when it comes to use of social
media? Where do you think they could
improve? Have your say in the comments
below or tweet me @burnettisms.

Mark Burnett was born and raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick and
currently resides there with his wife and daughter. He works in the
social media industry and practices photography in his spare time. If you
have an idea of something that you’d like to have featured here, please contact
Mark to make it happen. He can be reached by emailingmark@burnettphotos.ca.

One day you're going about your routine, going to work, looking after the kids, and the next you're down in bed because you're so exhausted you feel you can't take another step. You have the shades pulled because that migraine in your head throbs worse with light in the room. A rash has developed on your chest, but you're so dizzy and uncoordinated you're afraid to get up to get something to put on it. Your spouse is now waiting on you hand and foot doing simple things you could do for yourself only a short time ago. You've got to take time off work, or worse still, you lose your job. As the days wear on you begin to get depressed. Nothing you do to treat the symptoms helps. You're not getting better. Doctors can't figure out what's wrong with you. The house is a mess. The laundry is piled up. The kids don't understand why you're not you're usual self.

No one knows you've just been ambushed by the effects of chemical exposure. It's in the air all around you, coming from something somewhere. But because it's invisible, has no scent and is in just about everything in our daily lives, you have no idea it's what's causing your illness. And it could last for years, if not a lifetime, if you don't figure out that it's chemical exposure you're dealing with. Even if you do figure it out and get better, there is no guarantee your health will ever be completely normal again, and little recourse to compensate you for what you've lost.

Barb Harris knows full well what it's like to have her health destroyed. About twenty years ago she got very sick from unknown chemical exposure. Although she figured out what made her sick and started avoiding it, she doesn't have her health back completely. So she began to study the impacts of everyday chemical exposures on human health. For over a decade now, Harris has focused on research and writing about the public health effects of environmental toxins.

Her work led her to become a core member of the Environmental Health Association of Nova Scotia in 2000. EHANS is a community-based non-profit that educates the public on ways to identify and avoid environmental toxins, while helping them find healthy alternatives. EHANS also works with other groups to stave off public health threats so people aren't exposed.

When the shale gas fracking issue came to her neighborhood last year in River John after the north shore of Nova Scotia was leased for onshore oil and gas exploration, she went into overdrive to educate herself on the environmental effects of the industry on human health. The area was leased by the government shortly before it decided to review the industry and place further development on hold for the next two years.

The province is expected to use the review process to formulate
regulations on the shale gas industry in Nova Scotia. But the public is
frustrated it's being influenced by industry, and that the scope of the
process is too narrow; only taking into consideration the technical
aspects, not health or air effects.

Not waiting around, Harris co-authored a submission from EHANS to the province's review board to make it aware of the devastating effects chemical exposure from the industry can have on human health.

She also got involved with NOFRAC, a Nova Scotia anti-shale gas coalition, and began making public presentations on the health impacts of shale gas and fracking in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

Tomorrow night at 7 pm in MacLaggan Hall's room 53 on the UNB campus and Wednesday night at 7 pm in the Taymouth Community Centre, Harris will talk about her research into the impacts of airborne chemicals from shale gas fracking on human health. Since not a lot of studies
have been done in Canada, her information is mainly from the United
States. In the two free lectures, Harris will talk about the ways people are exposed through air
pollution and the levels of exposure in some places. This publication had a chance to talk to Harris late last week and discuss the issue with her.

"In Nova Scotia, it began with the hype that shale gas would be a clean transition energy with great economic benefits. But counter analyses began to show the risks outweigh the benefits," said Harris.

Although the government answered public concern with it's review, Harris found there is a lack of focus on the health impacts of the shale gas industry. Something that often happens in industry studies.

"It's a huge piece of the puzzle that's usually left out," she said.

Harris said she's uneasy about what could could happen if people are exposed to chemical toxins in the air due to fracking. It's not wise to do the studies after the damage is done.

She also questions the concept of "best practices" regarding regulation of the industry. She wonders if they're good enough; if they balance with health concerns.

"The industry isn't contained in a building with a controlled environment. It's in open areas near homes, schools, agriculture and forests," she said. "That has to be take into consideration [when formulating regulations]."

As was discussed in the recent forum on shale gas in Moncton, Tom Murphy of Penn State's Marcellus Center said technologies are evolving in the industry at a rapid rate, making it hard to know what the long term environmental impacts will be. Harris agreed.

"We need to know the impacts of industry. It's [slickwater hydraulic fracturing] not like any other industry. They're doing things that have never been done before," she said.

Those who raise concerns about the shale gas industry are often labelled as "fearmongers" by government, industry and business in favor of it. But Harris said knowing what's contained in the chemical recipes used during the fracking of a shale gas well is only common sense, not fear.

"Fear is not helpful. I try not to work from a place of fear. We need to know the long term harm when new contaminates are created and used in huge quantities," she said.

Harris added, "If it's so safe, why is it so secretive? [Financial] settlements with fracking companies are sealed. If there is nothing to worry about, why can't we have all the information?"

She referenced the book, Merchants of Doubt, to explain her feelings on being labelled a fearmonger. She said the book explains how industry has perfected dealing with opposition to "manufacture doubt" in scientific fact.

"They change the discussion to people being emotional when that's not the issue. It's looking at the information," Harris said.

Although she is a lay person who's educated herself on the topic, Harris said with so much information and conflicting opinion out there, along with the new industry technologies, it only makes sense to put things on pause.

"There's a lot we don't know so maybe we should slow down. Medical communities are saying slow down. So a long term moratorium from a health point of view makes sense," she said.

Even with everything she knows about the dangers of the shale gas industry to human health, Harris remains hopeful it will be delayed in the Maritimes.

"It's not a done deal anywhere. In the places where it was banned, or a moratorium was put in place, it was always due to an informed opposition. Many things can tip the balance. I have hope."

Barbara Harris has published several articles on the health impacts of shale gas in the national cancer prevention publication, The Ounce. She is co-author if the Guide to Less Toxic Products and runs a website with the same name, www.lesstoxicguide.ca. As the EHANS representative on the Pesticide Free Nova Scotia Coalition, she helped gain a provincial ban on cosmetic pesticides used for lawn landscaping in 2011. She lives in River John, Nova Scotia.

Friday, 15 June 2012

WHEN: Starts 8 pm Friday June 15 and runs to Sunday, June 17 until 6 pm

WHERE: Old Reserve on Union St. in Fredericton, (beside the Tim Horton's coffee shop)

WHY: To celebrate Native traditions and culture. All are welcomed.

WHAT: Drumming, dancing (bring your drum, there's a competition)

St. Mary's First Nation is one of six Wolastoqiyik or Maliseet Nations on the Saint John River in Canada. The St. Mary's Band lands comprise two reserves. The Saint Mary's reserve, established in
1867, lies on the northeast bank of the Saint John River, opposite downtown Fredericton. A second, larger reserve, purchased in 1929, lies 3 km north
of the St. Mary's reservation. Roughly half the members of the St. Mary's
First Nation reside on the reserve lands. The founding of the 1867 Reserve is attributed to Gabriel Acquin, a respected Maliseet hunter, guide and interpreter.

Thursday, 14 June 2012

FREDERICTON - Representatives from different organizations including
conservation, fisheries and labour brought their concerns with Budget
Bill C-38 to the office door of Fisheries and Oceans Minister and
Fredericton MP Keith Ashfield today. The impacts of
Bill C-38 to fish, marine ecosystems, fisheries, workers and public
safety were highlighted.

"Bill C-38 tears apart Canada's system of environmental protection,
which was built up over decades by both former Conservative and Liberal
governments. In my opinion this contravenes Article 11 of the North
American Free Trade Agreement where Canada, the US and Mexico explicitly
agreed not to relax environmental regulations as a means to attract
investment," said David Coon, Executive Director of CCNB Action.

Matthew Abbott, Fundy Baykeeper, pointed out that, “It is absurd to
suggest that we can protect fish without protecting their habitat. The
changes proposed in the budget bill demonstrate a lack of understanding
of basic ecological principles.” Also, in light of the ongoing cuts to
environmental science, including those assessing the impacts of
pesticides and contaminants, Abbott further noted that, "At the same
time that our government is eliminating and weakening key environmental
protections they are removing the very scientists best equipped to
assess the impacts of these changes. Choosing not to look will not make
the impact of these changes any less real.”

Sheena Young, Fundy North Fishermen's Association, spoke on Bill C-38's
impact to the lobster fisheries of Fundy North. Janice Harvey, Green
Party Fisheries Critic, spoke on how Bill C-38 proposes to gut marine
ecosystem monitoring and science when there is a five-fold decrease in
phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine. Dave Shaw, Public Service Alliance
of Canada, spoke on how Bill Bill C-38 is laying off government workers
and threatening public services and public safety.

"This approach by the Conservative government is wrong-headed and
citizens are standing up against it," said NDP Fisheries and Oceans
Critic, Robert Chisholm (Dartmouth-Cole Harbour). "They are making
sweeping and inappropriate changes to environmental protection,
including to the Fisheries Act in the budget document, essentially
stifling debate on the subject. The Conservatives are showing their
contempt for Atlantic Canada and our coastal communities."

Photo by Amelia Secord

Today's action is the third show of opposition against Bill C-38 at
Ashfield's office in the month of June. On Saturday, June 2nd, concerned
citizens protested against Bill C-38 and on World Oceans Day, June 8th,
ForestEthics Advocacy plastered fish decorated with impassioned pleas
on Ashfield's office. The pleas, from people across the country, called
on Ashfield to protect fish habitat and coastal and marine ecosystems.

Governments regulate shale gas, industry promotes operating practices

"In late January, CAPP announced new Canada-wide hydraulic fracturing
operating practices designed to improve water management and water and
fluids reporting for shale gas and tight gas development across
Canada," said CAPP President Dave Collyer. "CAPP members developed the
hydraulic fracturing practices voluntarily and are expected to adhere."

The natural gas industry is regulated primarily by jurisdictions that
own the resources - provincial governments in the case of hydraulic
fracturing - and to some extent also by the federal government on
navigable water, air, wildlife and greenhouse gas emissions.

The
industry's hydraulic fracturing operating practices were developed to
inform and complement regulations, not as a substitute for regulatory
oversight.Continuous environmental performance improvement is a goal of the
natural gas industry and is the expectation of most Canadians.

Disclosure of fluids used in hydraulic fracturing has been made
mandatory by regulators in British Columbia. In Alberta, companies are
required to disclose fluids to the provincial regulator and public
disclosure is expected to be mandatory later this year. The New
Brunswick government recently announced plans to require disclosure of
hydraulic fracturing fluids. It is within the remit of other provincial
governments to enact similar regulation as they see fit.

Work on regulation is typically informed by credible third parties such
as trade associations and organizations such as the International
Energy Agency, which recently positively cited the Canadian industry's
operating practices, indicating the CAPP work covers many of the issues
the IEA addresses in its "Golden Rules."

"Shale gas can and is produced responsibly every day across Canada and
the United States with more than 175,000 wells fractured safely in
Western Canada over the last 60 years. Our operating practices
demonstrate the Canadian natural gas industry's continued efforts to
ensure responsible resource development," Collyer said.

The industry's hydraulic fracturing principles and practices are
available here:

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) represents
companies, large and small, that explore for, develop and produce
natural gas and crude oil throughout Canada. CAPP's member companies
produce more than 90 per cent of Canada's natural gas and crude oil.
CAPP's associate members provide a wide range of services that support
the upstream crude oil and natural gas industry. Together CAPP's
members and associate members are an important part of a national
industry with revenues of about $100 billion-a-year.

David Coon, CCNB, on how Bill C-38 proposes to roll back decades of progress on laws protecting our environment.

Sheena Young, Fundy North Fishermen's Association, on how Bill C-38 could impact the lobster fisheries of Fundy North.

Janice Harvey, Green Party Fisheries Critic, on how Bill C-38 proposes
to gut marine ecosystem monitoring and science when there is a five-fold
decrease in phytoplankton in the Gulf of Maine.

Dave Shaw,
Public Service Alliance of Canada, on how Bill Bill C-38 is laying off
government workers and threatening public services and public safety.

Matt Abbott, Fundy Baykeeper, on who serves to benefit from Bill C-38
and the likely fallout of deregulation in light of ongoing expansion of
aquaculture and other industries in our sensitive marine waters.

Where: Intersection of King and Carleton Streets, downtown Fredericton

When: Wednesday, June 13th from 5:00 to 5:30 pm

Why: To protest against NB's high tuition costs & solidarity with the Quebec student movement

What: Bring a metal pot and a wooden spoon or wear a red square in support of the student movement*

How: Bus, bike, car pool, walk, thumb a ride - just get there!
Join NB students in making noise and handing out leaflets and red squares at an informative casseroles demonstration in solidarity with Quebec Students.

*The red square is the symbol of the Quebec student movement. It is a visual pun from the popular saying “being squarely in the red”. It symbolizes the ever increasing cost of education and debt load faced by students; student’s futures are “squarely in the red”.

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Yesterday the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) published a strong statement in favor of a state-wide
moratorium on unconventional gas drilling. Such drilling, they say, affects
local farmers, their farms, the food they produce and the people who eat it.

PASA urged PA Governor Tom Corbett and the state
legislature to enact a moratorium on shale gas drilling “until it is determined
that this practice will not impair the ability of farms to profitably produce
healthy food while respecting Pennsylvania’s air quality, water resources and
the natural environment.”

PASA calls for studies to assess the impacts of drilling on
the integrity, health and long-term sustainability of the food supply. PASA
supports baseline testing of water and soil, as well as animal welfare, prior
to and after extraction. They also suggest that drilling companies post a bond
that would be held in escrow to cover environmental clean-up costs.

DURHAM BRIDGE - About 100 people showed up last night at the Nashwaak Valley school in Durham Bridge to voice their opposition to the shale gas industry at a government panel. The area was the latest stop on the province's public consultation tour for feedback on its new shale gas recommendations to regulate the industry here.

Chaired by distinguished University of Moncton biology professor, Louis LaPierre (photo left, navy blazer), the panel consisted of himself and three other members from the Natural Gas Group, the government body overseeing regulation of the industry in New Brunswick. Moderated by the group's communications officer, Marc Belliveau, questions were answered by, left to right, David White, Annie Daigle and Craig Parks.

But Durham Bridge wasn't having any of it. From the moment Craig Parks finished his presentation on the government's regulatory framework and the mic opened up to the floor, it was obvious the panel was up against a tough room.

"There's no issue here. Shale gas isn't going to happen in New Brunswick. It's a done deal," said Maggie Connell flatly. Connell is a resident of the area and strongly against the shale gas industry setting up shop in the province.

Member of the NDP party and local resident Sharon Levesque said, "If Mr. Alward thinks that this is such a great thing for New Brunswick, then call an election and let people speak."

In the video below, resident Milda Titford bluntly spoke for many in the room who are vehemently opposed to shale gas in the community:

Former Conservative MLA for Western-Charlotte, Tony Huntjens (photo, below left) spoke at the meeting, saying he was "flabbergasted" when he heard the government was bringing shale gas fracking to New Brunswick.

"This is a dangerous experiment you're going with. We are told, for example, 40% of the chemicals that are pumped [into the ground] will not go back to the surface. How long does it take for those chemicals to come to the surface through another route?...Those chemicals will come to the surface and be detrimental to the health of our citizens," he said.

Current York North Conservative MLA Kirk MacDonald (photo, right), who represents Durham Bridge in the Legislature, was in attendance but opted not to comment, preferring to listen instead.

Resident Heather
Whelan, a retired addictions counsellor, raised the issue of the economic downsides of the possible
prosperity from the shale gas industry. With an increase in money, she
said, will come trouble with addictions in the population. She wanted to know if government has considered this.

Moderator
Marc Belliveau responded to Whelan's query stating, "You're absolutely
right, any community that gets a sudden influx of workers is going to
have those kinds of problems...part of the framework that we've
developed includes a community resources plan. That is being worked on
as part of the whole framework."

It was a very well-informed crowd. Many came to the mic waving peer-reviewed scientific reports from reputable think-tanks while making their points against shale gas to the panel.

One unidentified gentleman who got up to speak handed the panel copies of a 200-page report from Germany entitled, "2050 - A hundred per cent." It's Germany's plan for one hundred per cent renewable energy supplies by 2050.

He presented it to the panel as another approach to providing energy supplies for public consumption that will be sustainable for use by future generations.

But having to do his own research upset the gentleman who told
the panel, "I should not have to spend my free time doing this. The
government should be doing it, and I should be able to get the whole
picture...we need the whole picture to make informed decisions."

Others at the mic backed up their arguments with safety reports, economic evidence examining the royalty plan, and air quality data.

The panel was amenable to receiving the information, and took copious notes from those at the mic offering practical suggestions for them to look into on the issue.

But it wasn't just a night for practicalities. First Nations brought an emotional element to the discussion, exposing the public's sensitivities on the issue in a tension-filled room. Native Madeleine Huntjens pleaded for the Earth's water to the panel, as seen in the video below:

First Nations also brought up the matter of treaty recognition by the government in the shale gas matter. "I want to know, where is the legal obligation for consultation with First Nations?" asked Native Judie Aquin-Miksovsky.

She continued, "SWN says that the government's responsible. The government says that SWN is responsible. I want to know. There have been different meetings with Native associations and whatnot...but it's about trust...not every Chief, just like some MLA's that sit in our Legislature, can be trusted...They don't take into consideration what people in their communities want. The majority of First Nations communities don't want shale gas...there is a legal obligation you have to follow. Those treaties weren't just signed by Native people, they were signed by your ancestors. Are you going to ruin that? Are you not going to take responsibility in that?"

A topic that continued to be raised last night was the situation in Penobsquis. Many in the room worry that what's happening there with the loss of well water and land subsidence, likely due to both potash mining and shale gas industry in the area, will happen to them should shale gas fracking go ahead in their region. Residents don't believe government is equipped to protect them from industry should anything go wrong.

"We have regulations and recommendations and I believe your sincerity...but I'm pretty sure the mine in Penobsquis...was examined by a panel of experts, just like you...putting requirements in place to make sure it was done safely. It would seem logical to have in place all of the regulations before they [industry] got here, and to have the staff trained, and ready to enforce regulations. Then the people here who are so angry and frightened might be less so," said Paul McLaughlin from Marysville and President of the National Watershed Association.

In the video below, panelist Annie Daigle answers a question from First Nations member Judie Acquin-Miksovsky on government responsibility to citizens in the Penobsquis area:

Upper Miramichi
resident Rick de Gruyl asked, if in the event of an accident where a
homeowner's well water is contaminated, making the home and property
worthless like those in Penobsquis, will the government pay a fair
market price for the homes.

The panel's David
White responded, "In terms of a plan to purchase property if that comes
up, that hasn't been discussed. I mean, it's an option, certainly. But
it's not in our discussion document [recommendations]. There are
financial safeguards in the discussion document in terms of financial
safeguards, for instance, there is a property damage deposit, if you
want to call it that, that the industry would have to put down. That
would kick in in the sense that if there was an impact to water quality or quantity in a water well then that would be paid for by industry according to the damage that was done."

Bringing up another issue, Greenhill resident Lawrence Wuest pointed out that in all of the government information released regarding the shale gas recommendations, there has been no mention of a health impact assessment the industry will have on local communities.

Wuest said New Brunswick's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Eilish Cleary,
won't be issuing her report on how the province will monitor the effects of industry on public health until summer. He said this
makes it difficult for citizens to be fully informed for discussions
during the consultation process.

"We're expected to comment on these discussion papers without having seen a health impact assessment...at the FORUMe in Moncton, there was not a health panelist in that whole series of panelists," said Wuest.

The panel's Annie Daigle said the Department of Health is doing it's own independent health report in consultation with the Natural Gas Group. It will be releasing something publicly later this year.

"It's not in our documents. That was on purpose, to have it separate. It's a benefit to them somewhat, for us to be putting out what government's recommendations are for regulations on what may or may not be permitted in the province should shale gas development proceed. They've been fully briefed and are aware of what the problems are," she said.

Going past the scheduled 8:30 pm deadline for the meeting, the panel continued to listen for about another half hour before moderator Belliveau wound things down.

There are seven more meetings scheduled for the panel around the province. In the video below, LaPierre talks of last night's meeting and when he expects to turn in his report to government.

Monday, 11 June 2012

District 9 RCMP in Belledune are
looking for the public's help in locating and identifying two men who entered
the home of an elderly couple and demanded money.

At approximately 9:15 p.m. on June
10, 2012, District 9 RCMP in Belledune were called to a break and enter at the
home of an elderly couple. The couple had been tied up by two men who
were demanding money. The man and woman suffered minor
injuries but did not require hospitalization.

RCMP are looking for two men
described as being 5'8" to 5' 10' tall. One was tall and skinny
while the other man is of a heavier build. Both were dressed in black and
wearing face masks. One spoke English, while the other spoke French.

Anyone with information about this
incident or seen two men matching this description on the evening of June 10 in
Belledune is asked to contact District 9 RCMP in Belledune at 506-237-3030
or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

On Saturday morning Occupy Fredericton took protest action against the federal government's Bill C-38 at the constituency office of MP Keith Ashfield.

Frustrated with the gutting of the Fisheries Act embedded in the bill, the group made it's concerns known to Ashfield by affixing images and written material to the door of his office.

Photo: Michelle Davis, ChoraChroma Photographic

According to online publication, The Lawyers Weekly, the changes to the Fisheries Act look set to jeopardize fish habitat:

"Bill C-38 makes a significant and controversial amendment to the Fisheries Act
that would repeal and combine the prohibitions against the “harmful
alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat” and against the
killing of fish, with a single new prohibition on any activity that
results in “serious harm to fish that are part of a commercial,
recreational or aboriginal fishery or fish that support such a fishery.”
The new term “serious harm” is defined as “the death of fish or any
permanent alteration to, or destruction of, fish habitat.”

The
narrower provision has raised questions about whether the phrase
“commercial, recreational or aboriginal fisheries” excludes fish in
water bodies such as small streams, tributaries or wetlands. It has also
raised concerns about the effect of causing damage to fish that does
not actually result in death."

Photo: Michelle Davis, ChoraChroma Photographic

The proposed changes to the Fisheries Act in Bill C-38 have so incensed not one, but four former federal Fisheries and
Oceans ministers of both Liberal and Conservative stripes — Tom Siddon,
David Anderson, John Fraser, and Herb Dhaliwal, all privy councillors in
B.C. — that in last
Saturday's Globe and Mail they jointly penned an open letter to
Prime Minister Stephen Harper decrying the changes the bill will bring as it effectively ends the protection of fish
habitat.

That put them in concert with 600 Canadian scientists who have also
urged the prime minister to "abandon this initiative
[BillC-38] as it is currently drafted" because changing the law "would
be a most unwise action, which would jeopardize many important fish
stocks and the lakes, estuaries and rivers that support them."

Photo: Michelle Davis, ChoraChroma Photographic

The Occupy group plans upcoming action on Bill C-38 around the city to bring more awareness of changes that come with the proposed federal legislation.